Health Editor

President of the AMA Dr Steve Hambleton said talk of a $6 co-payment for health services and possible means-testing of it was a 'distraction'. Photo: Virginia Star

The federal government should abandon any discussion of means-tested access to GP services and medical tests and look at more promising policies that will save money and improve people's health, the Australian Medical Association says.

During the week, federal Health Minister Peter Dutton questioned whether people on high incomes should be paying more for health services, including GP visits, blood tests and X-rays. While he refused to say how actively the government was considering a means-tested payment for healthcare, any such move would eliminate universal access to free services.

In an interview with the ABC, Mr Dutton said: ''I want to make sure that, for argument's sake, we have a discussion about you or me on reasonable incomes, whether we should expect to pay nothing when we go to see the doctor, when we go to have a blood test, should we expect to pay nothing as a co-contribution and other taxpayers to pick up that bill? I think these are all reasonable discussions for our population to have.''

On Friday, President of the AMA Dr Steve Hambleton said talk of a $6 co-payment for health services and possible means-testing of it was a ''distraction'' and unlikely to ever be introduced because wealthy Australians already use fewer health services than poorer people, meaning additional co-payments for the rich would generate little revenue.

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Furthermore, he said most wealthy Australians live in areas where GPs are less likely to bulk bill, so they already pay a co-payment of about $28 to $36 for each GP visit.

''It's too easy to shoot down,'' he said. ''Once they get some sensible health economists to actually analyse the issue, they will say why would [we] do that?'' he said.

Dr Hambleton said the Commonwealth government needed to turn its attention to policies that would reduce healthcare costs, such as reforms to cut drug costs, better IT systems and interventions to reduce obesity, including banning soft drinks in school vending machines.

''Let's start talking about some real things that will reduce costs,'' he said.

In response to questions from Fairfax on Friday, a spokesman for Mr Dutton said the government was not considering any proposals or plans for co-payments for GP services, diagnostic tests or emergency department care, but rather wanted to promote discussion about the challenges for Australia's health system.